Low revs for starting off, to avoid wheel spin, best using 3rd on the flat, and 2nd on a hill. as soon as your moving, drop down a gear or stay in second, keep the revs high. if you need to stop quickly take your foor off the accelerator, and the car will slow quickly under engine breaking, using the break pedal apply the breaks slowly, don't dip the clutch until the car is trying not to stall.
If you're driving in deep snow try and keep slightly to one side of the tracks of the vehicle in front, because as the snow compresses, it melts, and refreezes as ice, uncompacted snow offers a little more grip... however avoid using roads that are unsuitable for your vehicle. Make sure you have new(ish) tyers on your car, Germany/Switzerland and a few other countries have stricter rules on minimum tyre treads, and may check your vehicle at the boarder. Also ther germans and the swiss drive on winter tyers from about the end of october untill late april, although there are not mandatory(sp). Whilst I'm on the subject of tyres, you may wish to slightly under inflate your tyres (once you're off the motorways and in the resort) to allow more surface are to be in contact with the ground.
Most european countries don't salt minor roads, but instead lay down gravel which will provide some traction.
abs in snow/ice is an interesting experiance, as is driving an automatic rear wheel drive car.
Makesure you have the following things available incase you get stuck.
- A shovek (small ish) so you can dig your car out
- A toe rope
- Snow chains
- Warm drinks
and a working mobile phone
But having said all that, because the roads leading to the resorts are so well used, and often cleared by snow ploughs, you shouldn't have any difficulties, unless there is unexpected snow during the day.
